12 Best Beaches in Bodrum, Turkey

Turkey is one of my favorite countries in the world, and Bodrum is the reason why. 

If Greece and the French Riviera had a baby that grew up with slightly better food and a much friendlier price tag, it would be Bodrum—whitewashed villas, sugar cube houses tumbling down hillsides, and turquoise coves that could easily pass for the Med. 

It's the most stylish corner of Turkey by a mile, home to boutique beach clubs, yacht-lined marinas, and a nightlife scene that rivals Mykonos, but somehow still manages to feel relaxed rather than try-hard. 

I recommend it to absolutely everyone, whether you're after a party weekend or total switch-off. Here are the 12 beaches I always send people to.

Bitez is Bodrum's family favorite, and once you've been you'll understand why. It's a long, sheltered stretch backed by tamarisk trees and windsurfing schools, with shallow, calm water that makes it perfect for kids or anyone who just wants to float about without worrying. 

The beach clubs here lean casual rather than flashy, with sun loungers that won't cost you a fortune. 

Skip the beachfront restaurants and walk two streets back into Bitez village for lunch, the little family-run spots serve the same fresh seafood for half the price, and you'll get a great taste of local life along with it.

Gümbet is where you go if you want energy: jet skis, banana boats, beach bars pumping music from midday and a young, up-for-it crowd. 

It's not the place for peaceful sunbathing, but if you want a beach day that turns into a beach night without moving an inch, this is it. 

The bay is wide and sandy, with warm, calm water ideal for watersports. 

My best insider tip: book any watersports activities directly with the operators on the sand rather than through your hotel or a tour desk—you'll pay a fraction of the price for exactly the same jet ski or parasailing session.

Yalıkavak is Bodrum at its most polished, with superyachts in the marina, designer boutiques, and a beach scene that draws a well-heeled crowd without ever feeling stuffy. 

The main beach itself is compact, but the real draw is the string of beach clubs along the coast where a day bed comes with great service and a menu that wouldn't look out of place in Saint-Tropez. 

I recommend you come for sunset even if you don't stay for dinner. The marina promenade lights up beautifully in the evening, and grabbing a drink at one of the bars overlooking the boats costs a lot less than the beach club prices during the day.

Türkbükü has long been dubbed the "Turkish Saint-Tropez," and once you see the row of glamorous beach clubs lining its shore, you'll get it immediately. 

This is where Istanbul's fashion crowd comes to be seen, so expect four-poster sun beds, DJ sets from early afternoon, and price tags to match. The bay itself is small but beautiful, framed by pine-covered hills. 

Many of the clubs let you reserve a sun bed for the price of a minimum spend rather than an entry fee, so call ahead and negotiate (it's common practice here and can save you a surprising amount).

Gümüşlük is the antidote to Bodrum's glossier beaches, and it's become one of my absolute favorite spots on this whole coastline. It's protected as an archaeological site (the ancient city of Myndos lies just offshore), so there's no building allowed right on the water, which keeps it wonderfully low-key. 

Think simple fish restaurants with tables in the sand and water so clear you can see straight to the bottom. 

Visit for the sunset and order the catch of the day at one of the family-run tavernas along the shore, and if you're a confident swimmer, snorkel out towards the submerged ruins just off the coast.

Ortakent Yahşi is one of Bodrum's longest sandy stretches, and it's a local favorite rather than a tourist-packed strip. The water here is shallow for ages before it drops off, which makes it brilliant for families, and there's enough space that you'll never feel like you're on top of your neighbors. 

The beach clubs are mid-range and relaxed rather than see-and-be-seen. Personally, I think this is one of the best spots in Bodrum to try kitesurfing thanks to the reliable afternoon breeze, and lessons here cost noticeably less than at the more famous windsurfing beaches further along the coast.

Akyarlar sits right at the tip of the peninsula, where the Aegean and Mediterranean currents are said to meet, and there's something gorgeously wild and windswept about it compared to Bodrum's more sheltered bays. 

It's a windsurfing and kitesurfing hub, with a handful of laid-back clubs strung along the sand and far fewer crowds than the beaches closer to town. 

Time your visit around sunset. The light out here, with the old windmills silhouetted on the hillside behind you, is some of the most beautiful on the entire peninsula, and it's rarely busy enough to spoil the moment.

Bardakçı is tucked just around the headland from Bodrum town, close enough that you can walk or take a short taxi ride, yet it feels a world away from the marina crowds. 

It's a small, sheltered cove with calm water and a cluster of relaxed beach clubs built into the rocks, several with their own little jetties for sunbathing straight over the sea. 

A handful of the beach clubs here run free shuttle boats from Bodrum marina if you spend a minimum amount, which saves you the taxi fare and gets you a rather glamorous little boat ride into the bargain.

Kargı Beach, better known locally as Camel Beach thanks to the camels that occasionally wander along the sand for photos, is one of the prettiest bays on the Bodrum peninsula. 

It's a slightly longer drive out, which keeps the crowds thinner, and the horseshoe-shaped cove backed by pine forest genuinely feels like a hidden gem. 

The water is that impossible turquoise you see on postcards. 

The small beach restaurant here does an excellent gözleme (Turkish stuffed flatbread) for a fraction of what you'd pay at the flashier clubs, and it's easily one of the best casual lunches on the whole coast.

Kadıkalesi is a quieter fishing village beach on Bodrum's western side, and Meteor Beach Club is the reason it's on this list. It's built into the rocks with platforms and steps leading straight into deep, clear water, making it a favorite for swimmers rather than sunbathers. 

The vibe is stylish but unpretentious, with reggae and chilled beats rather than the thumping house music you'll find elsewhere. My top tip: the rock platforms get busy by midday, so arrive before eleven if you want a good spot, and bring water shoes because the entry points are rocky rather than sandy.

Cennet Koyu translates to Paradise Bay, and it does not disappoint. Tucked away near Ada Boğazı, close to the little island of Karaada, this cove is only really reachable by boat, which keeps it blissfully free of the crowds you'll find on Bodrum's road-accessible beaches. 

The water is a deep, clear turquoise and the setting, ringed by pine hills, is about as postcard-perfect as this coastline gets. 

Book onto one of the smaller gulet boat tours from Bodrum marina rather than the big party boats, and ask the captain to anchor here for a couple of hours (it's usually a request they're happy to accommodate).

Karaincir is one of the widest, sandiest beaches on the whole peninsula, and it's a firm favorite of mine for a full, do-nothing beach day. 

The bay curves gently round, the sand is soft underfoot rather than pebbly, and the water stays shallow for long enough that you can wade out a good way and still touch the bottom. It's popular with Turkish families at weekends, which always makes for a nice, lived-in atmosphere rather than a purely tourist one.

The beach runs into a small forest behind it, and there are a couple of shaded picnic spots back there that are free to use—perfect for an afternoon break from the sun without paying for a sun bed you don't really need.